LEAF TREE PLANTING IN GARISSA

On World Environmental Day, KOEE organized a tree planting in Garissa town at Young Muslim Academy School around the theme of “Products, Benefits, and Services from Forests.” The Learning about forests (LEAF) program seized the opportunity to further build on the faith-based ESD initiative to promote food security through tree planting. Tree planting helps increase food security as non-wood tree species have an influence on food production such as fruits, medicines, and honey; these species were targeted for planting in school grounds and gardens. Trees are also vital in the fight against climate change. To increase public knowledge of this information, KOEE also organized a march before the tree planting. Garissa was chosen as the location for this event because it is at the heart of the arid and semi arid lands (ASALS) in Kenya, making it extremely vulnerable to food insecurity caused by drought; this makes alternative sources of food an imperative. The event mobilized schools, government institutions and civil society organizations. During the event, emphasis was placed on the fact that faith values greatly influenced positive behavior in regard to forest resource management, and that choice of tree species should be strategic and eco-system based in order to address people’s specific needs. During the entire tree-planting season, a total of 10,000 trees were planted, with shade and fruit trees being the majority

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